| Report of the Office of Student Conduct |
|
April 8, 2008, Volume 54, No. 28 |
|
To the University Community:
The Office of Student Conduct (OSC) periodically prepares reports to inform the University community about the character and extent of the work of the Disciplinary System, including the nature of violations of University rules and regulations and the sanctions imposed. These reports are made, in part, to provide an accurate and informative picture of the kinds of misconduct which are brought to the attention of our office and the variety of ways in which these matters are resolved. At the same time, we are mindful of our obligation under the Charter of the Student Disciplinary System to protect the confidentiality of individual students.
You will note a general decrease in the number of mediated cases. We find that even in situations where mediation would be appropriate and use of this alternative is encouraged, most students are unwilling to participate in it and prefer that a situation be handled through the more formal disciplinary process. When students have been willing to mediate, rather than it being conducted face-to-face, students prefer “shuttle mediation” where the mediator takes the comments of one to the other. Anecdotally, other schools are experiencing the same disinterest in mediation as an alternative form of dispute resolution.
A word about sanctions: there is no standard result for a particular type of case. OSC takes into account how a case compares to precedent, the year of the student, the egregious and/or repeated nature of the conduct, the level of honesty and responsibility taken by the student, and other factors as appropriate. The categories are broad; circumstances vary; and every student is treated as an individual.
We are discussing different ways of reporting information about the cases we handle and their resulting resolutions to give a more complete picture of what the Office of Student Conduct does. In this regard, I welcome any suggestions for future reports as well as any comments or questions about this report or on any other aspect of the University’s disciplinary process. I can be reached at (215) 898-5651 or by e-mail at herrons@pobox.upenn.edu.
—Susan W. Herron, Director, Office of Student Conduct
Report of the Office of Student Conduct
|
2002-2003 |
2003-2004 |
2004-2005 |
2005-2006 |
2006-2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Respondents (Academic Integrity) |
75 |
40 |
69 |
60 |
165* |
Undergraduate |
71 |
36 |
57 |
51 |
131 |
Graduate |
4 |
4 |
12 |
9 |
34 |
Respondents (Conduct) |
192 |
155 |
179 |
125 |
232 |
Undergraduate |
187 |
150 |
171 |
118 |
221 |
Graduate |
5 |
5 |
8 |
7 |
11 |
Total Respondents* |
267 |
195 |
248 |
185 |
397 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Academic Integrity Charges** |
|
|
|
|
|
Altering Exam/Paper for Regrade |
5 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
Cheating |
8 |
5 |
12 |
7 |
17 |
Fabrication |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Facilitating Academic Dishonesty |
15 |
10 |
2 |
6 |
17 |
Falsification of Grades or Transcript |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Misconduct during Exam |
4 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
Misrepresentation of Academic Records |
0 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
Plagiarism |
45 |
17 |
30 |
31 |
33 |
Provided Information to Another Student |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Submission of False Data |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Submission of Work Used Previously |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Unauthorized Collaboration or Other Use of Another Person’s Work |
3 |
2 |
15 |
3 |
91 |
Unfair Advantage over Fellow Students |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Other Academic Violation |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conduct Charges** |
|
|
|
|
|
Alcohol Violation (1st Offense)*** |
70 |
66 |
47 |
45 |
20 |
Alcohol Violation (2nd or |
|
|
|
|
|
Subsequent Offense) |
1 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
Assault |
13 |
10 |
16 |
6 |
7 |
Attempted Theft |
3 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
Carrying Weapons in an Educational Institution |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Computer Violation/Violation of Ethical |
|
|
|
|
|
Behavior with Respect to the Electronic Information |
|
|
|
|
|
Environment Policy**** |
10 |
4 |
10 |
25 |
153 |
Criminal Mischief |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
Disorderly Conduct |
52 |
31 |
56 |
22 |
18 |
Disturbance/Investigation of Person |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Drug Violation |
13 |
11 |
15 |
7 |
8 |
E-Mail Violation |
1 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Failure to Pay Rent |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
False Identity |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
Fire Code Violation |
9 |
3 |
12 |
1 |
1 |
Forgery |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Fraud |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
Harassment |
5 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
Hazing |
0 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
5 |
Indecent/Sexual Assault |
0 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
Misappropriation of Funds |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
Miscellaneous Security Violations |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Misrepresentation of Status to the University |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Noise Violation |
7 |
14 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
Propulsion of Object |
5 |
2 |
9 |
12 |
1 |
Reckless Driving |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Recklessly Endangering Another Person |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Retail Theft/Shoplifting |
3 |
15 |
23 |
5 |
3 |
Safety Regulations |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Sexual Harassment |
4 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
Theft |
11 |
1 |
12 |
8 |
11 |
Threats |
1 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
Trespassing |
2 |
0 |
9 |
4 |
2 |
Use or Possession of Air Guns/ |
|
|
|
|
|
Firearms/Dangerous Articles |
0 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
Use or Possession of Fake ID Card |
5 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
Vandalism |
38 |
20 |
42 |
25 |
18 |
Other Conduct Violation |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resolution of Academic Integrity Cases |
|
|
|
|
|
Signed Agreement |
60 |
35 |
52 |
46 |
111 |
Hearing, Case Founded |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Dismissed After Hearing |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
No Formal Disciplinary Action |
14 |
1 |
11 |
9 |
41 |
(Unfounded Complaint or Informal Resolution) Unresolved Cases***** |
1 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resolution of Conduct Cases |
|
|
|
|
|
Signed Agreement |
128 |
100 |
109 |
79 |
183 |
Hearing, Case Founded |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Dismissed After Hearing |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
No Formal Disciplinary Action |
|
|
|
|
|
(Unfounded Complaint or Informal Resolution) |
53 |
34 |
39 |
25 |
19 |
Mediation |
11 |
40 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Unresolved Cases***** |
10 |
21 |
30 |
19 |
30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Academic Integrity Sanctions |
|
|
|
|
|
Formal Sanctions |
|
|
|
|
|
Warning |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Reprimand |
3 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
7 |
Probation |
18 |
10 |
15 |
17 |
70 |
Suspension (Not Imposed) |
29 |
9 |
13 |
21 |
29 |
Suspension (Imposed) |
9 |
9 |
10 |
6 |
7 |
Delayed Diploma |
8 |
7 |
5 |
3 |
7 |
Notation on Transcript |
0 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
Withdrawal |
0 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
Expulsion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Informal Sanctions |
|
|
|
|
|
Community Service |
0 |
3 |
5 |
12 |
71 |
Counseling |
3 |
5 |
6 |
10 |
9 |
Essay |
6 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
58 |
Letter of Apology |
3 |
4 |
12 |
12 |
36 |
Meet with Academic Support Professional |
8 |
2 |
8 |
5 |
11 |
Present Program Relating to Charge |
6 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
Read Material on Plagiarism |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conduct Sanctions |
|
|
|
|
|
Formal Sanctions |
|
|
|
|
|
Warning |
57 |
57 |
11 |
17 |
7 |
Reprimand |
37 |
25 |
50 |
41 |
108 |
Probation |
32 |
11 |
33 |
21 |
23 |
Suspension (Not Imposed) |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
Suspension (Imposed) |
4 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
Delayed Diploma |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Notation on Transcript |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Withdrawal |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Expulsion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Informal Sanctions |
|
|
|
|
|
Avoid Complainant |
1 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
Community Service |
30 |
14 |
70 |
44 |
23 |
Counseling |
7 |
6 |
11 |
13 |
7 |
Drug and Alcohol Education |
44 |
47 |
34 |
19 |
15 |
Essay |
7 |
13 |
25 |
8 |
4 |
Fine |
22 |
15 |
18 |
21 |
129 |
Letter of Apology |
25 |
9 |
25 |
16 |
10 |
PPD First Offender Program |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
Restitution |
21 |
6 |
16 |
10 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
|
|
Fraternity and Sorority Cases |
8 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
PennCard Misuse |
11 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
25 |
___________________________________
* The increase in Academic Integrity cases in 2006-07 reflects an incident in a single class involving a significant number of students.
** The total number of respondents does not equal the total number of charges as some respondents are charged with more than one type of misconduct.
*** The decrease in the number of Alcohol cases is likely related to the Office of Strategic Initiatives’s (VPUL) “First Step” alcohol education initiative. Many first time alcohol offenders are referred by College Houses to First Step rather than to the Office of Student Conduct.
**** The majority of computer violations involve illegal downloading of copyrighted material.
***** Cases remain unresolved at the end of the academic year for a variety of reasons: some students withdraw from the University without resolving their disciplinary cases; the investigation in some cases is complex and may go into the following year; students may ask for a delay in their disciplinary case because of a pending court case; etc. |
